North Coast Section releases computer-assisted basketball playoff brackets
Reigning Metro Player of the Year Ella Gunderson scored 20 points in San Ramon Valley's 70-49 home win over Carondelet. (Jeff Chambers)Mitch StephensMon, February 16, 2026 at 3:31 AM UTC·8 min readThe North Coast Section announced its basketball playoff brackets Sunday. With advent of a computer rankings format, there were few if any surprises.
All teams that qualify for the playoffs - having a winning record either overall or in league play - are ranked by MaxPreps, then slotted into divisions based on enrollment. Teams are allowed to move up or down into a different division based on their MaxPreps ranking. However, no school can move up or down more than two divisions regardless of the ranking, with the exception of the Open Division.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe top six teams according to MaxPreps are automatically placed in the Open Division, regardless of enrollment. The section's No. 1 ranked boys team - Salesian-Richmond - is No. 1 in the Open Division despite its enrollment calling for Division 4.
First-round play begins this week with Divisions 1, 3 and 5 starting Tuesday and Divisions 2, 4 and 6 starting Wednesday. The Open Division tips off Thursday with the top two seeds - No. 1 Salesian and No. 2 Clayton Valley Charter-Concord in boys, No. 1 San Ramon Valley-Danville and No. 2 Carondelet-Concord in girls - getting first-round byes.
San Ramon Valley's girls earned their top seed with a second win over Carondelet, 70-49, on Friday to decide the East Bay Athletic League playoff title.
In the boys, Dougherty Valley-San Ramon qualified for the sixth and final Open Division spot with a 70-59 win over regular-season champion De La Salle-Concord in the EBAL playoff finals Friday.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNORTH COAST SECTION PLAYOFFS
Boys
(All first-round games 7 p.m. unless noted)
Open Division
Thursday
No. 5 Moreau Catholic (23-3) at No. 4 De La Salle (22-6)
No. 6 Dougherty Valley (20-8) at No. 3 Marin Catholic (23-3)
Byes: No. 1 Salesian (25-3), No. 2 Clayton Valley (25-3)
Division 1
Tuesday
No. 16 Windsor (19-9) at No. 1 Bishop O'Dowd (19-7)
No. 9 Acalanes (17-11) at No. 8 Archie Williams (18-7)
No. 13 Freedom (16-9) at No. 4 Liberty (23-3)
No. 12 Berkeley (15-11) at No. 5 Dublin (18-8), 5:30 p.m.
No. 15 Redwood (12-13) at No. 2 Amador Valley (16-11)
No. 10 Livermore (17-9) at No. 7 California (14-12), 5:30 p.m.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNo. 14 Campolindo (17-11) at No. 3 Granada (18-7)
No. 11 Alameda (15-11) at No. 6 Monte Vista (16-11)
Division 2
Wednesday
No. 16 Pinole Valley (15-13) at No. 1 University (23-5)
No. 9 Lick-Wilmerding (17-11) at No. 8 Casa Grande (20-8)
No. 13 Urban (15-11) at No. 4 Piedmont (18-8)
No. 12 Ygnacio Valley (13-14) at No. 5 Albany (20-8)
No. 15 Justin-Siena (17-11) at No. 2 Cardinal Newman (26-2)
No. 10 Heritage (15-11) at No. 7 San Lorenzo (16-10)
No. 14 Pittsburg (14-11) at No. 3 St. Mary's (17-10)
No. 11 El Cerrito (22-6) at No. 6 McKinleyville (19-8)
Division 3
Tuesday
No. 16 Napa (9-16) at No. 1 Branson (15-14)
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNo. 9 Marin Academy (16-10) at No. 8 College Prep (16-8)
No. 13 Mt. Eden (15-100) at No. 4 San Domenico (17-10)
No. 12 St. Patrick-St. Vincent (11-13) at No. 5 Brave Christian (23-5)
No. 15 James Logan (11-15) at No. 2 Cornerstone Christian (20-8)
No. 10 San Rafael (14-13) at No. 7 Bentley (21-6)
No. 14 Miramonte (15-11) at No. 3 St. Bernard's (23-3)
No. 11 Washington-Fremont (17-9) at No. 6 College Park (15-12)
Division 4
Wednesday
No. 16 Arroyo (11-15) at No. 1 San Marin (14-12)
No. 9 Head-Royce (13-13) at No. 8 Del Norte (19-10)
No. 13 Tamalpais (12-15) at No. 4 Mission San Jose (16-10)
No. 12 Tennyson (16-10) at No. 5 Bethel (13-13)
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNo. 15 American Canyon (15-13) at No. 2 Rancho Cotate (20-7)
No. 10 Montgomery (13-14) at No. 7 Northgate (12-14)
No. 14 Analy (14-13) at No. 3 Benicia (12-15)
No. 11 Ukiah (16-11) at No. 6 Alhambra (18-8)
Division 5
Tuesday
No. 16 Roseland Prep (15-11) at No. 1 Sonoma Academy (20-5)
No. 8 John Swett (18-9) at No. 9 Middletown (18-8)
No. 13 Quarry Lane (18-8) at No. 4 Drew (18-100)
No. 12 Berean Christian (10-10) at No. 15 Arcata (11-16), 5:30 p.m.
No. 15 Hoopa Valley (12-11) at No. 2 Eureka (14-12)
No. 10 Sonoma Valley (15-12) vs. No. 7 Gateway (15-12) at SF Waldorf
No. 14 Fort Bragg (12-12) at No. 3 Redwood Christian (19-9), 5:30 p.m.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNo. 11 International (13-13) at No. 6 Kennedy-Fremont (13-13)
Division 6
Wednesday
No. 9 Victory Christian (12-11) vs. No. 8 Jewish Community (8-14) at Kezar, 7 p.m.
No. 12 Round Valley (7-12) vs. No. 5 Contra Costa Christian (12-12) at Power Sports Academy
No. 10 Rio Lindo Adventist (13-8) at No. 7 Ferndale (5-10)
No. 11 Trinity Prep (13-5) at No. 6 Point Arena (13-10)
Byes: No. 1 St. Vincent de Paul (18-10), No. 2 Mendocino (20-4), No. 3 San Francisco Waldorf (8-12), No. 4 Averroes (16-9)
GIRLS
(All first-round games 7 p.m. unless noted)
Open Division
Thursday
No. 5 Bishop O'Dowd (15-9) at No. 4 Clayton Valley Charter (21-7)
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNo. 6 Cardinal Newman (21-7) at No. 3 Piedmont (19-3)
Byes: No. 1 San Ramon Valley (24-3), No. 2 Carondelet (23-5)
Division 1
Tuesday
No. 9 Maria Carrillo (20-7) at No. 8 Dougherty Valley (19-7)
No. 13 San Marin (18-9) at No. 4 Acalanes (19-8)
No. 12 Eureka (18-9) at No. 5 Alameda (17-9)
No. 15 College Park (23-5) at No. 2 Dublin (20-7)
No. 10 Windsor (22-5) at No. 7 Heritage (20-6)
No. 14 Campolindo (20-8) at No. 3 Arcata (17-4)
No. 11 Pinole Valley (16-12) at No. 6 California (17-10)
Bye: No. 1 Redwood (22-6)
Division 2
Wednesday
No. 9 Pittsburg (18-8) at No. 8 American Canyon (21-8)
No. 13 Sonoma Valley (20-8) at No. 4 University (18-10), 5:30 p.m.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNo. 12 Monte Vista (12-12) at No. 5 Lick-Wilmerding (22-6)
No. 15 Fortuna (16-100) at No. 2 Moreau Catholic (20-6)
No. 7 Marin Catholic (11-14) at 10 Ukiah (21-7)
No. 14 Washington-Fremont (16-10) at No. 3 Justin-Siena (23-5)
No. 11 James Logan (14-11) at No. 6 American (16-9)
Bye: No. 1 Salesian (18-10)
Division 3
Tuesday
No. 9 San Leandro (18-8) at No. 8 Liberty (15-11), 5:30 p.m.
No. 4 Miramonte (14-12) at No. 13 Middletown (18-7), 5:30 p.m.
No. 12 Archie Williams (14-11) at No. 5 St. Mary's (12-11)
No. 2 Benicia (17-9) at No. 15 Berkeley (9-12)
No. 10 Del Norte (11-11) at No. 7 Bethel (18-10)
No. 14 Antioch (13-11) at No. 3 Kelseyville (19-5)
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNo. 11 Mission San Jose at No. 6 Urban (19-6)
Bye: No. 1 St. Bernard's (20-7)
Division 4
Wednesday
No. 9 Vintage (13-12) at No. 8 St. Patrick-St. Vincent (10-17)
No. 13 Kennedy-Fremont (11-14) at No. 4 Las Lomas (14-12)
No. 5 Northgate (12-15) at No. 12 Vallejo (17-11)
No. 15 Hayward (10-10) at No. 2 Branson (16-12)
No. 10 Upper Lake (16-10) at No. 7 Santa Rosa (17-8)
No. 14 Livermore (11-16) at No. 3 St. Helena (17-6)
No. 11 Piner (8-6) at No. 6 Marin Academy (15-10)
Bye: No. 1 Rancho Cotate (14-12)
Division 5
Tuesday
No. 9 Gateway (12-11) at No. 8 Berean Christian (9-13)
No. 13 Emerald (5-20) at No. 4 Healdsburg (10-17)
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNo. 12 Quarry Lane (12-5) vs. No. 5 Credo (15-10) at Callinan Sports Center
No. 7 Calistoga (14-9) at No. 10 Sonoma Academy (13-10), 5:30 p.m.
No. 14 College Prep (8-14) at No. 3 St. Joseph Notre Dame (13-14)
No. 6 San Domenico (9-13) at No. 11 Redwood Christian (15-9)
Byes: No. 1 The Bay School (14-5), No. 2 Albany (15-9)
Division 6
Wednesday
No. 9 Brave Christian (14-5) at No. 8 Anderson Valley (13-7)
No. 13 Trinity Prep (7-5) at No. 4 Laytonville (19-4)
No. 12 Averroes (10-12) at No. 5 St. Vincent de Paul (16-12)
No. 10 San Francisco Waldorf (9-11) at No. 7 Mendocino (16-10)
Byes: No. 1 Cornerstone Christian (21-7), No. 2 Ferndale (17-9), No. 3 Grace Christian Academy (18-3)
This article originally published at North Coast Section releases computer-assisted basketball playoff brackets.
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